Xbox One standalone console revealed by Microsoft

Microsoft has decided to give fans what they’ve been asking for, revealing a new edition of the Xbox One which comes without the new Kinect camera, making it a cheaper alternative.

Announced on the Xbox News wire, The new version will become available on 9 July 2014 (where Xbox One is already available, so not South Africa just yet), and will be priced at $399 (approximately R4,100*)

The new Kinect camera will then become an additional peripheral purchase for the “standalone” Xbox One.

This new price will also allow for Microsoft to compete with Sony in the pricing war, as the new version will be in line with the Playstation 4 ($399), with the PS Eye motion camera available as an additional purchase.

The Xbox One bundled with Kinect will remain available.

Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Business for Xbox, previously stated that South Africa, along with a host of other territories, will be getting the console in September 2014.

*Exchange rate to dollar as of 13 May 2014 (1 USD = 10.3090 ZAR).